Before the Big Ten went to a conference championship game, no one played a game this week. Big Ten teams were home with their families for Thanksgiving.

The conference title game next week, however, required teams to play their final regular-season game the weekend of Thanksgiving most years.

That has created some logistical problems for players to get home with their families today.

Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer held practice this morning, and then dismissed players within driving distance of Columbus to head home for Thanksgiving. Michigan is doing the same. Players have to return Friday morning.

Players who live too far away — there are plenty — will go to a teammate’s house, Meyer’s or an assistant coach’s family celebration.

That is the schedule all around the Big Ten.

“We started planning this three or four weeks ago,” Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald said. “I’m an old school Big Ten guy, and I wish we had this week off for the kids. But I get it. I understand why we do it. I would just prefer to see our young guys home like everyone else on campus.”

Fitzgerald joked that none of his players who can’t make it home will go to a coach’s home today.

Fitzgerald misses bringing a player home with him for Thanksgiving. He has three sons, all younger than 10.

“You want to talk about three little guys with a bunch of heroes to look up to,” Fitzgerald said. “You wouldn’t want any other group of guys around your sons than my guys. The kind of role models they are and I watch my little guys worship them.”

Dozen out

One of the points Meyer keeps making with reporters — locally and nationally — is the fact that Ohio State has lost 12 players to season-ending injuries. Meyer’s subtle point is that Ohio State has been forced to plug in younger players and the Buckeyes still are No. 3 in all the major rankings. Cornerback Armani Reeves, receiver Corey Brown, linebackers Curtis Grant and Joshua Perry all missed parts of the Indiana game. Meyer said all four players have practiced this week.

Traveling well

There are reports that Michigan students have been selling their tickets to Saturday’s game to head home for Thanksgiving, and that has led some to speculate that Ohio State will have as many as 30,000 fans in Michigan Stadium.

“I’ll tell you what, I have witnessed some things this year I have not seen before,” Meyer said. “At Cal-Berkeley that might’ve been the best example (of OSU fans traveling). It meant a lot to look up there and you couldn’t believe it. I imagine it will be more difficult this time around. It means a lot to us.”